INDIGENOUS UNDERSTANDINGS AND APPROACHES TO SUCCESSFUL AGING

Abstract Indigenous peoples worldwide face unique challenges growing old. Many of these challenges are founded in historical colonization practices, present oppressive systems, racism, and underrepresentation in research, service provision, health education, and successful aging theories. The focus of this symposium is to discuss specific barriers and challenges related to Indigenous aging in rural and urban communities, as well as community strategies supporting aging well. The first presentation by Zayla Asquith-Heinz and colleagues will share the results of what successful aging or “Eldership” means in the Norton Sound southern subregion of Alaska. Results indicate that family plays a central role within the Norton Sound model of successful aging. The second presenter, Steffi Kim and Jordan Lewis, are discussing the role of cultural influences and Elder identity on successful aging in the context of Alaska Native Elders migrating from rural traditional communities to a western urban community. The third and fourth presentations by Sarah Russell and Rachel Quigley will share the results on what aging well means within Torres Strait Islander people. The results suggest that the availability and accessibility to traditional practices, language and foods can facilitate aging well within these communities. They will also describe the development and implementation of a toolbox of culturally appropriate screening tools and interventions. Lastly, Jordan Lewis will explore the Indigenous concept of “doing” successful aging rather than having good health. He will outline differences and similarities with BIPOC studies on successful aging.

19. Physical distancing protocols during COVID-19 exacerbated social disconnect of rural older adults and paused in-person intergenerational programs. Pilot data from a Cyber-Seniors program that was adapted for virtual delivery and participation during the pandemic (2020-2021) indicates positive health outcomes for older adults (improved social isolation and loneliness). This presentation will address a gap between outcomes and the implementation process of the intergenerational technology program. Multi-method data on student experiences as technology mentors working at a distance suggest a need for an evaluation of program implementation. The type 1 effectivenessimplementation hybrid design includes quantitative measures of student outcomes (ageism, social isolation, and loneliness) and qualitative analysis of students' program implementation experiences. Students identified challenges accessing and working with the online platforms, scheduling meetings with older adults, and providing support with online systems by phone.

THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS OF AN INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY RESEARCH PROJECT: A NARRATIVE REVIEW
Rachel Scrivano 1 , Jill Juris 2 , and Shannon Jarrott 1 , 1. The Ohio State University,Columbus,Ohio,United States,2. Appalachian State University,Boone,North Carolina,United States Food for a Long Life (FFLL) was a five-year USDA Children, Youth and Families at Risk intergenerational community research project that sought to increase healthy food consumption, knowledge, and access among preschoolers and older adults living in food insecure communities of Ohio and Virginia. Using the community-based participatory action research approach, community stakeholders jointly participated in all stages of the project to co-create context-specific programming to address needs within their communities with the goal of promoting program sustainability beyond the grant funding period. This presentation will provide a narrative review to explore the implementation process of FFLL by comparing initial project expectations to reality using the community-based participatory research conceptual model (Wallerstein et al., 2008;Wallerstein et al., 2018). By exploring project barriers such as COVID-19, facilitators such as flexible partner relationships, and strategies including promoting early buy-in, we provide an in-depth discussion of project successes and lessons learned.

SEVEN YEARS OF IMPLEMENTING AN INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAM WITH UNIVERSITY/COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS Skye Leedahl, Erica Estus, Kristin Fratoni Souza, and Alexandria Capolino, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, United States
The University of Rhode Island Engaging Generations Cyber-Seniors Program was first implemented in the fall semester of 2015. URI students from 15+ majors have supported the digital competency of older adults in Rhode Island each semester and summer session since its inception. Gradually over time, we modified and expanded this in-person program to meet student, older adult, community partner, and faculty needs. The pandemic led to our program expanding exponentially due to new grant funding opportunities, new partnerships, and student interest. This presentation will address strengths and challenges of implementing this program state-wide in a small, mostly urban state with community partners, mostly involving senior centers. We will describe moving from in-person to phone/virtual and now to a hybrid model. Last, we will explain the program's efforts to conduct formative and summative evaluation research to assess program output and examine outcomes for students and older adults in the program.

INDIGENOUS UNDERSTANDINGS AND APPROACHES TO SUCCESSFUL AGING
Chair: Jordan Lewis Co-Chair: Steffi Kim Indigenous peoples worldwide face unique challenges growing old. Many of these challenges are founded in historical colonization practices, present oppressive systems, racism, and underrepresentation in research, service provision, health education, and successful aging theories. The focus of this symposium is to discuss specific barriers and challenges related to Indigenous aging in rural and urban communities, as well as community strategies supporting aging well. The first presentation by Zayla Asquith-Heinz and colleagues will share the results of what successful aging or "Eldership" means in the Norton Sound southern subregion of Alaska. Results indicate that family plays a central role within the Norton Sound model of successful aging. The second presenter, Steffi Kim and Jordan Lewis, are discussing the role of cultural influences and Elder identity on successful aging in the context of Alaska Native Elders migrating from rural traditional communities to a western urban community. The third and fourth presentations by Sarah Russell and Rachel Quigley will share the results on what aging well means within Torres Strait Islander people. The results suggest that the availability and accessibility to traditional practices, language and foods can facilitate aging well within these communities. They will also describe the development and implementation of a toolbox of culturally appropriate screening tools and interventions. Lastly, Jordan Lewis will explore the Indigenous concept of "doing" successful aging rather than having good health. He will outline differences and similarities with BIPOC studies on successful aging. Alaska Natives (AN) view aging from a holistic perspective. One of the challenges of researching with cultural groups is the lack of data, or research, on culture and aging. This research explored successful aging from an AN perspective. A community-based participatory research (CBPR) model was used to engage participants at every stage of the research process. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 AN men and 25 women. Kleinman's Explanatory Model of Illness was adapted to gain a sense of the beliefs about aging and to guide the data analysis to establish an AN understanding of successful aging or attaining "Eldership" in Northwest Alaska. The foundation of the Norton Sound southern sub-region Model of Successful Aging is family, which contributed to Elders' feelings of emotional well-being, ability to engage in their Native Way of life, maintain their physical health, and continue spiritual practices.

AN EXPLORATION OF CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON SUBJECTIVE SUCCESSFUL AGING Steffi Kim, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Indigenous peoples worldwide face unique challenges growing old. Many of these challenges are remnants of previous colonization practices and current oppressive systems often leading to out-migration from rural to urban environments. Despite Anchorage having the highest population of Alaska Native Elders little is known about the experience of relocation. This study investigated the impact of culture on the experience of successful aging within the Alaska Native context. Twenty-five semi-structured qualitative interviews with rural (N=13) and urban Elders (N=12; ages 48-84) were conducted. The use of Gee's discourse analysis tools provided the framework for analyzing the discourse of Elders based on location and traditional or western influences on subjective successful aging. We explored the use of language within two identified discursive patterns: cultural discourse and Elder identity discourse. Social and contextual determinants of successful aging involve aspects of minority and majority culture and self-appraisal of successful aging based on cultural assumptions.

ON THE "ACTION" OF DOING HEALTHY AGING AS OPPOSED TO "HAVING" GOOD HEALTH Jordan Lewis, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, Minnesota, United States
The field of successful aging continues to grow and expand as authors investigate this topic in BIPOC populations, broadening the scope of successful aging, including Indigenous communities in the Arctic. Successful aging in Alaska Native communities is still a young, but growing, field of research, and this field of study places Indigenous voices at the forefront. This presentation will present data from 11 years of interviews with 108 Alaska Native Elders from rural and urban communities across the State of Alaska and highlight how successful aging is more of an "action" of doing healthy aging as opposed to the Western notion of "having" good health. The findings of this presentation will discuss how Alaska Native Elders' understanding, or doing, successful aging can be applied to everyday life, similarities and differences with BIPOC studies on successful aging, and serve as an act of resistance against western notions of successful aging.

INTEGRATING AGE INCLUSIVITY WITH DEI EFFORTS ON AGE-FRIENDLY UNIVERSITY (AFU) CAMPUSES
Chair: Joann Montepare Co-Chair: Kimberly Farah Discussant: Peter Lichtenberg The pioneering Age-Friendly University (AFU) initiative, endorsed by GSA's Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE), calls for institutions of higher education to respond to shifting demographics and the needs of age-diverse, older populations through more age-friendly programs, practices, and partnerships. Over 85 institutions in the United States, Canada, European countries, and beyond have joined the global network and endorsed the 10 AFU principles, with even more showing interest in becoming partners in the movement. One key foundational area identified by AFU research efforts and partners is integrating age inclusivity with ongoing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts on campuses. This symposium explores the need for this integration featuring AFU partners who will offer their observations and recommendations. Bowen and colleagues will open the session with data from their national study of